PSP Discussion Thread

PSP Discussion Thread
Made By: ♥♦♣♠Luxord♥♦♣♠
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Ok guys this thread is where all PSP related topics (Mainly PSP hacking though)
Feel free to post any questions, comments, or any user created guides and I will add it to the first post.

There are some rules though

Absolutely NO links to anything that is questionably legal or just plain illegal.
*This Means No ISO/CSO/DAX, No Roms, No copyrighted files of any kind. No files inside of a PSP ISO which means no models, no .SFO files no .VIV files no .AT3 files no .ATM files and the list goes on. Basically if you ripped it from the ISO/used UMDGEN or downloaded it do NOT POST IT. Special Thanks to RvR for letting me make this thread so please do not ruin it.

What we can do is post tutorials, FAQs, discussion, news, user created content, PSP development (yet again no copyright issues please), Scripts, videos, images, media of any kind (read rules), and so on and so fourth.

Lets Get started. I will make a tutorial for installing CFW through HEN and some news and information about Total_Noobs HEN.

You Do not have to be an expert at this to post so feel free to ask questions, in fact I recommend it.


GLOSSARY

Spoiler

• Atrac3 - An audio codec made by sony that is comparable to mp3.
• AVC MP4 (Advanced Video Coding Mpeg-4) - A superior codec that allows for a better quality video with a smaller file size. Requires at least Firmware Version 2.00 or higher.
• Bière d'Alsace - eLoader 0.96, mainly bugfixes from the last version.
• Bock - eLoader 0.97; It supports WiFi access (both ad-hoc and infrastructure) on all PSP Firmwares. Gets rid of the hassle of a "WiFi hack" as was done in earlier versions.
• Brick - To render a Playstation Portable unit "useless as a brick" by corrupting it's firmware. Only PSP Versions 1.50 and lower may be bricked. Bricking can be prevented by avoiding firmware altering applications such as PSPSet and any homebrew EBOOTS from untrustworthy sources. There is no way to unbrick a PSP.
• Brown Ale - Eboot Loader 0.95 that allows homebrew to be run on 2.0 and above.
• Cache - A temporary storage area in memory or on a disk that holds the most recently downloaded web pages. If the web page has not changed, the cached page is displayed immediately.
• Cheat Device - A program made by Edison Carter to use cheats in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. It was the first homebrew on 2.01+ and exploit is used as the basis for the eLoader.
• Decrypt - To restore information to its original, unprotected state (the reverse of "encrypt").
• Digital Signature - Information that is encrypted with an entity private key and is appended to a message to assure the recipient of the authenticity and integrity of the message or file.
• Downgrade - A way do revert your firmware to an older version. At the moment, it is only possible to go from 2.0 to 1.50.
• DRAM - Stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory, a type of memory used in most personal computers.
• EBOOT - An EBOOT file is a compiled program (like a windows .exe), there are many types such as games, emulators and applications
• eLoader - The eLoader is a program written by Fanjita and Ditlew to run hombrew software on Firmwares 2.0 and above.
• Emulator - A program that is built to run another systems games. The program allows the PSP to interpret functions native to the original system that a game (or ROM) might call.
• Encrypt - To encode (scramble) information in such a way that it is unreadable to all but those individuals possessing the key to the code.
• Exploit - An exploit is a piece of software/code that takes advantage of a bug, glitch or vulnerability in the firmware to run a script or a program. Every known exploit on the PSP is used to run homebrew applications (like eLoader or the 2.0 EBOOT Loader).
• Firmware - The PSP's Operating System (like Windows on a computer).
• Firmware Emulation - Running a PSP firmware through software. Basically making the PSP think that a totally different firmware is actually being used. It's done by first unloading the current firmware's modules and then loading their newer versions from the memory stick.
• Flash - The PSP's flash memory is where all of its firmware files are stored, messing with this can result in a bricked psp.
• Flash 0 - The major peice of the PSP's flash. This contains the firmware and all of the vital parts. If this becomes corrupt, your PSP is bricked.
• Flash 1 - The part of the PSP's flash that contains the Web Browser's cookies, settings, wallpapers (2.00+), and other non vital things.
• Flash Dump - A copy of the PSP's flash files. Dumping is the cool word for copying. It is generally used for firmware emulation or researching hacks.
• GTA Exploit - The GTA Exploit is a vunrability in the Grand Theft Auto game that allows homebrew code to be run.
• GUI - Graphical User Interface.
• Homebrew - A general term that describes programs made by enthusiasts in the psp scene.
• IDE - Integrated Development Environment. A single program bundling together many useful things like an editor (for typing out code), a debugger (for finding errors), and a compiler (for compiling code into binary). If the IDE is for another platform than the PC, then an emulator is possibly bundled. The official Sony PSP Dev Kit is a ide. And yes, it does have a fully functional PSP emulator. It is very very expensive and has not been leaked.
• IRDA - Infrared, used for programs such as the universal remote.
• ISO - An ISO is a dump of a game file from a cd, eg a neogeo game on psp would be an ISO.
• ISO Loader - A program used to load backed up or pirated psp games.
• Kernel mode - some memory locations can only be modified by the kernel itself. It is the "admin" account for your PSP. Kernel mode basically is the "power" to modify those memory locations. When people say kernel mode is not available on Firmwares above 1.50, it means you dont have the power to change the values of those memory locations.
• kXploit - An exploit which allows homebrew to be run on 1.5 psps, it involves using 2 folders and edited eboots
• LocationFree - A program included in Firmwares 2.50 and above to stream video files from your LocationFree Base station to your PSP via WiFi.
• Lua - A simple scripting language that has been ported to the psp.
• Lua Player - The PSP Application that allows excecution of Lua scripts.
• Memory Stick - A storage device analogous to the hard drive in your computer.
• MIPS - a kind of a processor. (eg x86 for Pentiums, Cell for ps3, etc.)
• MP3 - An audio codec that most music is formated in. It may not be the best but it is the most common.
• MP4 - A codec that the psp uses for audio and video.
• NAND - Used in memory cards such as the CompactFlash cards. It is also used in Sony PSP for the Firmware. NAND is best suited to flash devices requiring high capacity data storage.
• Pak - See WAD
• PARAM.SFO - Similar to a .ini file, this is the part of an EBOOT.PBP package which contains the "instructions" for running the code (DATA.PSP/DATA.PSAR), as well as supplying other information on the program, such as region and program title.
• PBP - the main executable file for the PSP's operating system. Akin to .exe files for Windows.
• PMF - Format: A media file format for PSP, it is a proprietary format of Sony and is not easily created or encoded. Video splash screens (at PSP startup and when loading a game) are in PMF format.
• PMP - A video format that allows full resolution video to be played using PMP homebrew.
• Port - A modified version of an application or game that allows it to run on a system that it was not originally designed for.
• Portal - A collection of JavaScript games designed to run in the webbrowser.
• Root - The root directory refers to the upermost level of a drive. eg X:\ would be the root if your PSP's drive letter was X
• PSPVideo9 - GUI for ffmpeg used to convert videos into PSP friendly formats.
• PRX - Files that are stored in the Flash and in UMD games. They contains certain functions (e.g. game-saving or media codecs).
• Resolution - A screen resolution of 480x272 means 480 pixels (dots) horizontally across each of 272 lines, which run vertically from top to bottom.
• Ripkit - A small program that takes extraneous files such as music and videos out of ISOs in order to make them fit into smaller file sizes.
• Rom - A rom is a dump of a game file from a cartridge, eg a SNES game on PSP would be a rom.
• SDK - Software Development Kit. Basically a bunch of apps which together make it easy to develop for a platform. Developing for the PSP was possible before the PSPSDK came out, but it was a lot more difficult. After it came out, homebrew came out by the bucketloads. (Not to be confused with an IDE).
• Shareware - Copyrighted software that is available free of charge on a trial basis, usually with the condition that users pay a fee for continued use and support.
• Shell - A program made to be used instead of the psp's firmware. It is not its own OS, but rather a program running on top, masking the true OS.
• SIRCS - Sony's own proprietary infrared protocol. Used in most, if not all Sony TVs and the Playstation 2. It is the native IR format for the PSP, therefore, making a SIRCS based remote for the PSP is a cakewalk.
• Sleep Mode - This is a mode where the PSP is effectivly turned off, but when you turn it back on it resumes from the same spot.
• SP MP4 - Simple Profile Mpeg-4. A video filetype that is playable on any firmware PSP.
• Swaploit - This was an early version of the kXploit which only worked on 1.50 PSPs. The exploit worked in a way that you first loaded an eboot from the dashboard and when the PSP splash screen appeared you quickly swiched your memory stick to one that contained a game or application.
• TIFF Exploit - The TIFF exploit was a vulnerability in the PSP's Photo Display code that allowed homebrew to be run on Firmware 2.00. It was patched in 2.01.
• UMD - Universal Media Disc, a Sony disk format used to store games, music and movies.
• USB Cable - The PSP features a Mini B USB port, it allows you to connect your PSP to the computer.
• User Mode - Used in the GTA Exploit. It prevents us from using certain functions (e.g. UMD emulation and irda). No flash access is available within this mode.
• Video RAM (VRAM) - VRAM is a term generally used in computers to describe RAM dedicated to the purpose of displaying graphics.
• VSH Mode - The TIFF exploit runs in this mode. This is a combination between Kernel Mode and User Mode which gives us a few extra functions like access to the flash.
• WEP - A form of encryption used for WiFi.
• WMA - Windows Media Audio. The default CD-ripping format in the Windows Media Player. It is only playable in Firmware Version 2.60.
• WAD - A container file. Something like zip files, but for DOOM-series game files.
• WiFi - WiFi is a wireless network protocol. It can be used to share files and internet connections.
• WPA - A form of encryption used for WiFi. It is more secure than WEP.
• XMB - The main menu on the PSP. This is the menu you will get to when you reboot your PSP completly.

Half Byte Loader Source Code ~Credit Goes To Wololo

Spoiler

http://www.mediafire.com/?czt3auz0l9y8b7r

IS MY PSP HACKABLE?

Spoiler

UPDATED DEC, 12 2010
I CAN NOT UPDATE TODAY I HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL WORK
NEXT UPDATE: WEDNESDAY(LATEST)
EDIT: HEY GUYS GIVE P SOME CREDIT TOO
YOUR A BIG HELP P
-THANKS
​

 

Are the CFW files themselves allowed to be provided? I mean, they use Sony's modified intellectual property without permission.

 

what exactly does CFW do?

 

Ill have to pass that one by with RvR but for now i would say probably but don't post links yet because i can compile them into one whole link containing all of them then we can make separate links

thanks in advance for helping

well in simple terms it opens the psp and gives you ful access including the flashes 0/1/2/3
and allows you to run homebrew, isos, prx plugins, custom themes etc

 

Ah, ok thanks for explaining it to me lux.^ ^

 

any time i will be uploading officials in a few hours

 

so when will CFW be available for the psp?

 

If you have a 1000, or certain models of 2000, then there already is CFW.

If you have any PSP with OFW lower than 5.03, you can get pseudo-CFW.

 

Actually, with Hellcat's Recovery Flasher you can get upgrade to actual CFW very easily. From 5.03 on any PSP that is.

 

Not any PSP. Try that on a late-2000 or any 3000 and you'll end up with a brick, unless something has drastically changed in the past six months.

 

P is right
that's the common mistake that will get you bricked

 

Terminology: A 'brick' is a PSP that has lost all functionality as anything except a paperweight or a brick. A pandora battery can recover all 1000s and some 2000s from brick state. Everything else, if bricked, is completely useless. You do not want a brick.

 

updated
-thanks P you are a huge help

 

A nice list of terms, to be sure, but it seems to lack anything above 2.XX firmware, which is a bit of a problem considering we're currently pushing 6.XX.

Perhaps add a section explaining how to install CFW? I could write something up, but it's honestly simply easier to link here for the most part. I'd just be repeating whatever he said.

 

i suppose you could just give him credit but than again you never know and thats something i had in my old psp documents that i remembered and im also uploading the half byte loader open source files

credit goes to wololo

 

Really? I thought it was that you could do it up to 5.00 M33 and then any CFW beyond that would result in a brick.

 

We only have free access to alter the firmware of PSP 1000s and some 2000s. If you try to install 5.00m33 (or any CFW) on a PSP 3000, you'll end up with a very nice paperweight.

 

I see. Then why does this article talk about the 5.03 Prometheus patch as being for 2000s and 3000s?

 

Ah, I see where the confusion comes in. Those PSPs have a TA088v3 motherboard. They cannot have CFW installed on them. Instead, they can have it temporarily loaded into RAM by an exploit, but the exploit must be run each time they boot the PSP on. The 'CFW' is stored in the flash, yes, but it's not booted from, and it doesn't affect anything. It's loaded into RAM by the exploit. The Prometheus patch allows that 'CFW' to play more recent games with the inbuilt ISO loader.

 

Oh, I get it. So you still have to boot into the HEN, but the patch is stored in the same way as real CFW, right?